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Picture Courtesy: THE DIPLOMAT
Context
Japan released its first-ever "Space Domain Defense Guidelines," highlighting the growing importance of outer space in modern warfare.
The evolving use of outer space
Era of peaceful exploration: The space age began with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by the Soviet Union in 1957. Early applications included communication and meteorological satellites.
Rise of military applications: The Cold War promoted the development of advanced rocketry and missile technologies with potential military applications.
- Following World War II, the US and the USSR continued developing missile programs, some had the potential to be used for space launches or as weapons.
- Satellites became integral to military operations, providing surveillance, communication, and navigation capabilities.
- GPS, originally developed for military use, became essential for both military operations and civilian infrastructure.
New era of space militarization: Major powers, including the US, China, and Russia, are developing and testing space-based military technologies, including anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons; designed to disable or destroy enemy satellites.
- Several nations have conducted ASAT tests, such as India's Mission Shakti in 2019.
- Creation of dedicated military space forces, like the US Space Force in 2019, indicates a growing focus on space as a warfighting domain.
Factors driving the militarization of space
- Geopolitical competition: Several nations, including the US, Russia, China, India, Japan, and European nations, now possess space capabilities.
- Militarization of space: Space-based systems are integral to modern military operations. Satellites provide capabilities for communication, navigation (GPS/NavIC), survey, surveillance, missile warning, and even targeting.
- Dual-use technologies: Many space technologies serve both civilian and military purposes, blurring lines and raising concerns about potential misuse
- Nations are dependent on space assets for national security and economic growth, which drives the development of defensive and offensive space capabilities to protect these critical assets.
- ASAT weapons: Development and testing of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons highlight the intent to disable or destroy enemy satellites.
- Countries like China (2007), India (2019), and Russia (2021) have demonstrated ASAT capabilities.
- ASAT tests create space debris, threatening all space assets. The 2007 Chinese test alone generated thousands of debris fragments.
- Private sector involvement: Private companies like SpaceX, OneWeb, and Amazon Kuiper are launching satellites (e.g., Starlink) for communication, Earth observation, and other services.
- Commercialization brings innovation but also raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the need for clear regulatory frameworks.
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1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST)
Objective: Prevent space militarization and encourage peaceful collaboration.
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Key provisions
- Freedom of Exploration and Use: Nations can explore and use space freely and equally, following international law.
- Non-appropriation: Space and celestial bodies cannot be claimed by any nation.
- Peaceful Use of Celestial Bodies: The Moon and other celestial bodies are to be used only for peaceful activities, with military bases, weapon testing, and maneuvers prohibited.
- Prohibition of WMDs: Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction are not allowed in orbit, on celestial bodies, or in outer space.
- International Responsibility: States are responsible for their national space activities, including those by private entities, which they must authorize and oversee.
- Liability for Damage: States are liable for damage caused by their space objects.
- Assistance to Astronauts: Astronauts are considered representatives of humanity, and states must assist them in emergencies.
- Avoidance of Harmful Contamination: States must avoid contaminating space and celestial bodies and prevent harming Earth's environment.
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Challenges to space security and governance
- Competition: Increasing counter-space capabilities (ASATs, cyber warfare) by multiple actors (US, China, Russia, India) and dual-use technologies elevate the risk of conflict in space.
- Space Debris: Growing number of defunct satellites, rocket stages, and collision fragments threatens operational spacecraft and raises the risk of Kessler Syndrome.
- Inadequate Governance Frameworks: Existing treaties (e.g., 1967 Outer Space Treaty) are outdated, lacking clear rules for conventional weapons, cyberattacks, private activities, and space resource utilization.
- Lack of Consensus: Geopolitical rivalries and differing approaches hinder the creation of new international norms and legally binding treaties to prevent an arms race in outer space.
- Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Space infrastructure is vulnerable to cyberattacks (e.g., the 2022 KA-SAT attack during the Russia-Ukraine war), disrupting vital services.
- Rise of New Actors: Increasing number of state and private actors (like Starlink), creates challenges in space traffic management.
- Ethical & Environmental Concerns: Questions arise regarding space resource exploitation, the preservation of celestial bodies, and the environmental impact (emissions, debris) of growing space activities.
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International space conventions and treaties
- Rescue Agreement (1968) requires countries to assist and return astronauts in distress to their launching state and help recover space objects that land outside the launching state's territory.
- Liability Convention (1972) establishes absolute liability for launching states for damages caused by space objects on Earth or to aircraft.
- Registration Convention (1976) requires launching states to register space objects with the UN.
- Moon Agreement (1984) regulate activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies.
- UN COPUOS (Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space), promotes international cooperation and addresses legal issues in space.
- Artemis Accords (2020) led by the U.S. and NASA, non-binding principles guide civil space exploration and use.
- The Accords are linked to NASA's Artemis program. As of May 2025, 55 countries have signed, including India.
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What are the concern for India with rising space weaponization?
Strategic vulnerability: India's space assets are crucial for defense capabilities, including communication, surveillance, and navigation (like NavIC).
- Rival nations, mainly China, are rapidly enhancing their counter-space capabilities (e.g., anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, cyber warfare), neutralize India's strategic advantage in space.
Space debris: India, with its growing number of operational satellite, faces a high risk of collisions with space debris and other objects.
Economic and commercial disruption: The militarization of space threatens India's commercial space economy, projected to reach $13 billion by 2025.
- The escalating risks of space warfare can increase insurance costs for satellite launches and operations, deter foreign collaborations (like NISAR between NASA-ISRO).
- Any debris-generating conflict could disrupt India's space-based services, impacting vital sectors like communication, data services, and Earth observation.
- This could also shift ISRO's focus from civilian exploration towards defense requirements, hindering India's economic and scientific progress.
Capability gaps: India lags behind major space powers in advanced counter-space technologies like space-based lasers, jamming-resistant satellites, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Space Situational Awareness (SSA) systems.
- India's reliance on foreign components for its space program also raises concerns about potential supply chain vulnerabilities.
- Limited funding compared to international counterparts hinders the development of cutting-edge counter-space systems.
What measures India can adopt to enhance its Space Capabilities?
Dedicated space command => Centralize command and control of space assets for both civilian and military applications.
- Space Command within the Integrated Defence structure, aligning with the Indian Air Force's (IAF) proposal to transition into the Indian Air and Space Force (IASF).
- Develop a comprehensive National Space Doctrine outlining strategic goals, rules of engagement, and escalation thresholds in the space domain.
Enhance space situational awareness (SSA): A robust, real-time SSA network is critical for monitoring activities, tracking space debris, ensuring satellite safety, and identifying potential threats to India's space assets.
Boost indigenous counter-space technologies: Develop capabilities to detect, deter, and respond to threats to India's space assets, ensuring a layered defense framework.
- Focus on developing dual-use platforms and leveraging private sector participation.
Strengthen space-based cybersecurity: The plan is to enhance India's space defense capabilities by implementing dual-use platforms and involving the private sector in defense.
Global cooperation: Participate in international forums and discussions on space security.
Source: THE DIPLOMAT
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PRACTICE QUESTION
Q. Outer space, once a domain of peaceful scientific exploration, is rapidly becoming a new frontier of global conflict. Analyze the factors contributing to the weaponization of space. 250 words
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It is an international agreement prohibiting weapons of mass destruction in space and promoting peaceful exploration, but it doesn't ban conventional weapons.
It was India's successful Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile test in 2019, demonstrating its capability to shoot down a satellite in low-Earth orbit.
A theoretical scenario where the density of space debris in low Earth orbit becomes so high that collisions create a cascade of further collisions, making space unusable.
